WealthDesign

The shape of our families in 2017 looks somewhat different than the family shape in 1977. Today many families are blended families and often with more than just one set of children.  Blended families can make financial planning just a little complex!  Often there are issues around how assets are split if one or both partners die untimely. 

We are now seeing KiwiSaver scheme balances getting up to the stage that they need to be considered within the estate planning process too.

There are legal issues and often people don’t want to open the door and play the ‘what if game’, but from my experience, planning for the worst and expecting the best is always best done before a crisis.

Once you can articulate what you want to happen, planning requires an input from lawyers. One of the largest issues we see is that people get the first two parts right, but never finish the paperwork. The outcome can be a basket full of pain, despair and wasted money.

As financial planners, we have experience in organising this process, and understand where insurance can play an important part.

Expect the best and plan for the worst – give us a call today – we make the complicated simple. It’s just what we do.

John Barber
WealthDesign – a life well planned

read on...

After almost 30 years in the financial services industry I am a firm believer that investing is not a paint by numbers sort of deal, and that investors don’t all fit in some theoretical box. The investment theory is we are all somewhere on a ‘risk’ scale; from a conservative investor to an aggressive investor. You only need look at the design of the KiwiSaver schemes to understand how this theory is reinforced.

What the theory doesn’t take into consideration is people. We are a weird bunch and we are all different. We have different abilities to understand and handle volatility (so called risk, when our asset values go up or down). Understandably we like it when our assets appreciate in value, and hate it when their value goes down. We also have different time frames and different balance sheets. We also have different abilities to manage investments.

The theory doesn’t take into consideration timing. Timing is really important. There are times when it’s great to be a conservative investor and have lots of investments in bonds or fixed interest. Then there are times when even these defensive investments do not reward the investor for the risk they are taking.

Now is one of those times. If you consider a moderate bond portfolio will only be yielding around 4% and there is a risk of capital loss, why would you invest in bonds at this time (especially when bank deposit rates are around 3.6% and there is very little chance of capital loss)?

We are all different, so personalised advice is vital. Get an adviser on your team who looks at your whole financial picture and gives you advice that suits you – not tells your which ‘box’ you fit into, providing an off the shelf, ‘she’ll be right’ solution.

An adviser with a wrinkle or two helps, as being in this industry for a while means they’ve been through the financial cycles, and if they are still here, they must be doing something right! Knowledge and experience will definitely be the way to go when it comes to investing in your future.

Give me a call today, and see how a great investment strategy can help you to reach your financial goals. Our first session together is complimentary; in that time you can decide if working with me, will work for you.

John Barber
WealthDesign – a life well planned

read on...

We all know New Year’s resolutions have a particularly high fail rate – so here’s a more novel idea for looking forward to 2017 and beyond.

The bucket list.

Download it and give it a whirl for 2017. 

Now would be a great time.

WealthDesign
A life well planned

read on...

Well done everyone – Sunday December 25th is in sight! The frenetic pace of life is soon to be replaced with chill time, relaxation and doing what takes our fancy for a while. Whew! 

Here’s a neat little tool that may help you to reflect on what you want to experience and achieve in your life – both in 2017 and beyond. If you’re looking to transform your world, try this bucket list idea. Focusing your mind in a different way, turns your brain into a ‘heat seeking missile,’ and opportunities appear to head you in the direction of life you want to live.

Inspired for life

So we suggest you print it, then find a sunny spot and grab your favourite cuppa/glass of ……., and create your bucket list.

Here’s our chance to wish all of our awesome WealthDesign clients the most amazing Christmas possible. Thank you for choosing WealthDesign to be part of your financial team in 2016. We are privileged to work with you and revel in the opportunity to help you get to where you want to go in life.

May your days be merry and bright! 

WealthDesign
A life well planned

read on...

Kiwis are in love with owning their own piece of paradise. We like to own our own homes. We’re a nation of number eight wire, DIYers, that love to take on a project. Property is also a robust pillar of a smart retirement plan.

Owning your own home teamed with having a healthy KiwiSaver balance, means you will increase the chance of living the life you are planning for, after 65.

The Retirement Commissioner (and everyone else who thinks we should know) is telling us we are going to live longer, plus we’re having smaller families, so we can’t rely on government super to live on, in our old age.

The government recognises this and has put in a pretty good plan to help. You now can access your KiwiSaver balance and get a free grant to help buy your first home.

Yet the Reserve Bank have forced banks to increase the deposits people need to buy their first home. Who does this hurt? Mainly 20 and 30 year olds as they’re in that first home buying space. Who does this protect? Mainly the banks from themselves. Deposit restrictions mean the banks have more fat if a person defaults on a loan lending. Does this help the borrower? Not really, but it’s great for the banks (and their thriving profits).

Silver suits will appear on TV to tell us all what a great thing they are doing on our behalf. Hmm – I must be starting to become a cynic!

Just one of the mixed messages we receive on a daily basis.

Stay current with what’s having an impact on your financial health. Call us. No question is a silly one.

John Barber
WealthDesign – a life well planned

read on...